A’s reward Doolittle with new deal

OAKLAND (AP) — In three short years, Sean Doolittle transformed himself from a top first base prospect into a shut-down reliever.

The Oakland Athletics are rewarding him for it, giving the left-hander a five-year contract Friday for making the improbable switch. The deal contains a pair of club options that could extend the agreement through the 2020 season.

“It means everything that the organization thinks of you like that, that they want to keep you around and they think you can be part of teams here for years to come,” said Doolittle, a regular in the second deck at A’s games as a boy with his brother. “If you factor in the road I took to get here and everything I went through to be able to put on this uniform, it’s really special to know I’ll be part of this organization for a while.”

The 27-year-old left-hander has been a reliable member of Oakland’s talented bullpen since converting from first base late in the 2011 season. He is 7-6 with a 3.10 ERA and four saves in 122 relief appearances, allowing 100 hits with 129 strikeouts in 125 innings. He is 0-0 with a 3.12 ERA and one save in eight appearances over 8 2-3 innings so far this year, his third big league season.

Blue Jays will

activate Reyes

The Toronto Blue Jays plan to activate shortstop Jose Reyes from the disabled list today. Reyes hasn’t played since straining his left hamstring during his first at-bat of the season on March 31 against Tampa Bay. Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said Reyes will come off the DL before today’s game against the Indians and will play every day once he returns. He batted .296 last season for Toronto, but missed 66 games with a sprained left ankle.

Mets trade slugger

Davis to Pirates

The New York Mets traded slumping first baseman Ike Davis to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night, parting ways with a power hitter who proved to be too inconsistent at the plate. Pittsburgh sent minor league right-hander Zack Thornton and a player to be named to New York for the 27-year-old Davis.

Davis was hitting .208 with one home run and five RBIs in 24 at-bats. He lost his starting job to Lucas Duda and was relegated to a part-time role with the Mets, who also have Josh Satin at first base.